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PDN photo by Jennifer Teague  Pocola Elementary teachers Tracy Nesbitt (left) and Lorie Horn show some of the coats that were delivered to their school Friday afternoon from the “Keeping Our Kids Warm” coat drive sponsored by the Poteau Daily News and area businesses and individuals.
By David Deaton, News Reporter - Have you ever taken your little one to school on a cold day and noticed another child without a coat? This year the Poteau Daily News, along with numerous area businesses, schools and individuals decided to do something about it.What started as a suggestion among co-workers at the newspaper ended with a room full of coats that will warm the bodies of children and the hearts of those who gave.The goal of the first annual "Keeping Our Kids Warm" coat drive was to provide every child in LeFlore County who was in need, with a winter coat. A call was placed to every elementary school in the county requesting the number of coats needed for their students. Gender and sizes for children in pre-k through eighth grade in need of jackets started pouring in. The need was quite overwhelming and that is where the community came together to lend a helping hand.A total of 132 requests came in from Pansy Kidd Middle School in Poteau, Poteau Upper Elementary, Poteau Primary, Whitesboro School, Cameron, Arkoma, Wister, Pocola Elementary, Pocola Middle School, Spiro Upper Elementary and Spiro Lower Elementary.Each of the 132 requests were granted through donations. The coats were delivered to the schools Friday afternoon.We would like to thank everyone who made a donation to our coat drive. A very special thank you to Bob and the late Jan Graham, owners of G’s Cleaners. They donated the dry cleaning service for the jackets. Without you, the success of this worthwhile project would not have been possible.Businesses throughout the county making donations were Heavener Farm and Poultry, Young’s Pharmacy, State Representative Neil Brannon, Baggs Body Shop, Poteau Pawn and Gun, Western Sizzlin, Central National Bank, Corgill’s Motorsports, JoB Construction, Poteau Tag Office, Tortoise and the Hair, Wal-Mart, Myers Drive-In and countless individuals. We are grateful to each and every one of you. Without your donations the needs of our children would never have been met. |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 29 January 2008 )
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Leadhorse Jerry Williams of Mississippi, formerly of Antlers, proudly waves the Choctaw Nation flag. Williams is one of the walkers taking part in the Longest Walk 2 and is the only Choctaw in the group.
Shanti (center) of Santa Cruze, Calif., enjoys visiting with fellow walkers Eula and Stanley Perry of Tuba City, Arizona. The trio are walking with the Longest Walk 2 from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. 
